The phrase “all hanging together” first said by Benjain Franklin” is still a powerful ideal. Most certainly it applies to families, congregations, schools, religious communities, nations, as “hanging out with” is a means of building strong bonds. The recent issue of America magazine spoke of Trump’s “Make America Isolated” policy. Contrary to this policy is Pope Leo XIV’s support for international bodies and global commissions directed at peacekeeping and collaboration. I’m not a politician. I hope my one vote gets counted. But it’s easy for me to feel alone and ineffective. So, I pull out my most powerful weapon to unify the world. It’s prayer. Please pray often for peace. I’m sure you already do. As we approach the time of year when we most reflect on the passion and death of Our Lord, let us meditate on the non-retaliatory example of Jesus: “Put your sword back in its sheath” (Jn. 18:11).